Michael McLeod signs professional tryout (PTO) contract

UPDATE: Despite earlier reports stating that McLeod had signed a PTO with the Hurricanes, that does not appear to be the case... at least not yet. Still, NHL insider David Pagnotta reports that McLeod is expected to sign with the Hurricanes for this upcoming season.

Read below for our earlier report, published as events occurred.

This just in, according to multiple online reports Michael McLeod, formerly of the New Jersey Devils, has signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

McLeod, of course, is an unrestricted free agent and not eligible to play in the NHL until December 1st. He is one of the five members of Team Canada's 2018 World Juniors team who was exonerated in sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in 2018. Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton are the other individuals who were alleged to have assaulted a young woman in a London, ON hotel room following a Team Canada gala, but were found not guilty after a lengthy, public trial.

There have been daily rumors on the NHL future of Hart in particular, but McLeod is the first player to officially resume his career in the NHL... at least on a tryout basis. If he manages to lock down a full-time roster spot and a contract with the Hurricanes he'll be eligible to return to the ice on December 1st.